Patong - The Wake

[xylophone]

13 minutes ago, DHut said:

Hi everyone, good day to all of you good people. I am preparing my visa and documents to enter Thailand via the Phuket sandbox program. But I am still undecided which area I should stay in. If I were to station myself in Patong, would I get any sights of life, restaurants and amenities? Also, I don't ride a motorbike, it would be great if there are baht bus and motorsai available easily in Patong. Appreciate any advice from Phuket residents here. Thanks much!

Well Patong is not the "full on" place it used to be by any means, however as I have just said in another post, there are a few restaurants open and a few shops, but forget it if you liked shopping in the big shopping malls, because there aren't any open now in Patong.

 

A few massage parlours are open and are very welcoming with the girls at the door beckoning passers-by to enter!

There are a few tuk tuks around although I haven't seen a baht bus lately, but plenty of motorbike taxis.

 

The main bar area of Bangla Road is just about closed down completely, with perhaps a handful of bars struggling to stay open and serving alcohol in plastic cups and coffee mugs.

 

There was no one on the beach this morning, so if you like empty beaches, this is the place to be.

 

A few other posters here have said that Rawai is the place to be, however I can't comment because I haven't been there lately – let's hope this helps.

[DHut]

8 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Well Patong is not the "full on" place it used to be by any means, however as I have just said in another post, there are a few restaurants open and a few shops, but forget it if you liked shopping in the big shopping malls, because there aren't any open now in Patong.

 

A few massage parlours are open and are very welcoming with the girls at the door beckoning passers-by to enter!

There are a few tuk tuks around although I haven't seen a baht bus lately, but plenty of motorbike taxis.

 

The main bar area of Bangla Road is just about closed down completely, with perhaps a handful of bars struggling to stay open and serving alcohol in plastic cups and coffee mugs.

 

There was no one on the beach this morning, so if you like empty beaches, this is the place to be.

 

A few other posters here have said that Rawai is the place to be, however I can't comment because I haven't been there lately – let's hope this helps.

Thank you so much, this helps a lot in knowing what kind of situation Patong is in right now. Sounds like the Patong back in the days before mass tourism arrives. Kinda sad to hear that walking street is struggling, I missed hearing girls calling me handsome while I hold my beer belly with pride.

[Espanol]

1 hour ago, DHut said:

Thank you so much, this helps a lot in knowing what kind of situation Patong is in right now. Sounds like the Patong back in the days before mass tourism arrives. Kinda sad to hear that walking street is struggling, I missed hearing girls calling me handsome while I hold my beer belly with pride.

Well, I'm in Patong Beach right now.

About 6 sunbeds hired in my row.

 

Beach is lovely and few people here: no Chinese, Russian, British, Korean, Indian or Australian. Just some Americans and Europeans. 

 

Bangla Road has about 15 open bars, serving alcohol without restrictions. Yes: beer is served in coffee mugs, but who minds?

 

Beautiful girls everywhere at cheap prices.

 

Plenty of massage places. Difficult to find one without happy ending, but there are some.

 

Many open restaurants and very good promotions (50%) in good restaurants using Eatigo. 

 

I was here last time in 2017 and promised that never again. Indeed much better now.

 

It's a pity that this will not last much longer, but I'm really happy that I finally know Phuket like it was 40 years ago.

 

[DHut]

1 hour ago, Espanol said:

Well, I'm in Patong Beach right now.

About 6 sunbeds hired in my row.

 

Beach is lovely and few people here: no Chinese, Russian, British, Korean, Indian or Australian. Just some Americans and Europeans. 

 

Bangla Road has about 15 open bars, serving alcohol without restrictions. Yes: beer is served in coffee mugs, but who minds?

 

Beautiful girls everywhere at cheap prices.

 

Plenty of massage places. Difficult to find one without happy ending, but there are some.

 

Many open restaurants and very good promotions (50%) in good restaurants using Eatigo. 

 

I was here last time in 2017 and promised that never again. Indeed much better now.

 

It's a pity that this will not last much longer, but I'm really happy that I finally know Phuket like it was 40 years ago.

 

Thank you too Sir, this is very informative. Looks like I am set to station in Patong.

[BinJakob]

Thank you for the update Xylophone!

I’ve actually never been to Patong, but got to read the entire thread, kind of a novel, when I had spare time. Feels like I know you and got a little worried when you didn’t write anything ????

 

Be well and stay safe!

[xylophone]

On 9/19/2021 at 10:56 PM, BinJakob said:

Thank you for the update Xylophone!

I’ve actually never been to Patong, but got to read the entire thread, kind of a novel, when I had spare time. Feels like I know you and got a little worried when you didn’t write anything ????

 

Be well and stay safe!

Just a follow-up on your post, and to let you know that I'm still alive, here is a further update with just a few more snippets of information.

 

As you have probably read, a few bars have been allowed to open and have/have not been allowed to sell alcohol depending upon the whim of the local BIB.

 

Bangla Road has seen a few bars open up and has also seen a few punters frequenting them, although still drinking their alcohol in coffee mugs and plastic cups!

 

Quite a few little "shops" are open along the beach road, those which sell the T-shirts, shorts and other items, although I've yet to see people shopping in them, but there again I'm not around all of the time, so perhaps they are doing some business, which will be better than no business at all.

 

Back to Bangla, the large bar fronting Soi Sea Dragon has seen a plethora of attractive girls perched outside of it, and they are from Suzie Wongs, and according to a rumour I heard, they were about to be joined by a whole lot more, perhaps 30 in all??

 

Whereas in Suzie's they used to get paid a salary, plus a percentage of their lady drinks, in the bar fronting Bangla, apparently they are not paid a salary, but a percentage of the lady drinks they sell – – mind you at 200 baht a pop for a thimbleful of bathtub tequila or similar, they will have to have some very keen/wealthy/drunk/stupid admirers to clock up anything like their previous salary. Unless of course there is a hefty bar fine, which there used to be, and of which the girls get a percentage, plus of course the cost of the entertainment the girls provide!

 

All in all it could be an expensive night out for the reveller, and I wonder how many "two-week millionaires" will be amongst the patrons, this given the cost of getting here and accommodation et cetera, unless they are farangs returning home?

 

I have noticed a few more restaurants open, and I must investigate a decent Indian restaurant so that I can order a takeaway, because no matter how hard I try, I cannot replicate the taste with my home-cooked curries.

 

Jumping around a bit here, and none of the small bars and café's which have recently opened up in Nanai seem to be doing well, and certainly the ones close to me would be surviving on "the smell of a bowl of som tam" as the saying almost goes.

 

I am always partial to a bona fide massage, although these are hard to find and as a recent poster has said, there are plenty of "rub and tug" experiences available, but they're not what I want, so I was delighted to find my favourite massage parlour had opened up again, just yesterday, so obviously I went along for a massage.

 

I know the owner of the shop, in fact she opened up a few others when things were normal here, but I don't know how they are going at the moment, however this one at the far south end of Rat-u-Thit, in the same little Soi as Patong Whiskey and Dr V is now open for business and I think the hours at the moment are from midday till 8 PM.

 

The place has genuine massage tables and many of them, toilet facilities, aircon, and is clean and tidy and the massage ladies are professionally trained, and the true massage experience is great.

 

I have been visiting this one for some years now and am keen to see it survive, so I will post the phone number: – 076349847 or 0805221108, or of course you could Google it: Sweet Lemongrass, is the name.

 

There are more people around in Patong at the moment, but nowhere like in previous years, however there are some optimists here because I've noticed a couple more small bars and shops being made ready for the return of the millions, so I hope they've got deep pockets to help them survive the lean months ahead.
 

[billythehat]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

 

 

I am always partial to a bona fide massage, although these are hard to find and as a recent poster has said, there are plenty of "rub and tug" experiences available, but they're not what I want, so I was delighted to find my favourite massage parlour had opened up again, just yesterday, so obviously I went along for a massage.

 

I know the owner of the shop, in fact she opened up a few others when things were normal here, but I don't know how they are going at the moment, however this one at the far south end of Rat-u-Thit, in the same little Soi as Patong Whiskey and Dr V is now open for business and I think the hours at the moment are from midday till 8 PM.

 

The place has genuine massage tables and many of them, toilet facilities, aircon, and is clean and tidy and the massage ladies are professionally trained, and the true massage experience is great.

 

I have been visiting this one for some years now and am keen to see it survive, so I will post the phone number: – 076349847 or 0805221108, or of course you could Google it: Sweet Lemongrass, is the name.

 

Sir, I remember your recommendation you gave me on said establishment and concur with your opinion on the service. Upon looking for the shop, I do recall walking passed the small soi a couple of times before finding it somewhat hidden back from view, so a little tricky to find the first time. Located away from the main strip, I was surprised at how busy they were and many of the folk were repeat customers. The boss asked me how I found out about them and I replied “That old buzzard from New Zealand” she said “Oh him! When he come again?!” ????

[London Lowf]

Regarding Bangla, I arrived for the Sandbox on Sunday and was there last night and everyone is now serving beers in bottles + condoms rather than plastic or (god forbid) soggy paper cups.

 

Interestingly, Sea Dragon bar used to be one of my favourites, but after one beer a couple of days ago I couldn't get away quick enough - the hustling is relentless even from the pavement in front. Desperate times, I guess, and to back up what Xylo mentioned, I did notice that a few of the girls had Suzie Wong t-shirts on. However, I cannot agree on their attractiveness -   I find screeching pushy bargirls an instant turn-off and that clouds my judgement. That said, I'm a medium term stayer rather than a typical tourist, and I'm sure most of the latter find that scene rather exciting.

 

After a few years of playing the bar-fine and lady-drink sucker I just like to have a beer in peace while I watch the world go by - Black Horse and it's sister Blue Orchid bars are good for that.

 

One thing I have noticed along the sadly sparsely populated Bangla is that the streetwalkers now seem to be exclusively ladyboys so I guess the straight (for want of a better word) girls have all moved online - as have I!

 

 

[London Lowf]

 

Things are gradually getting a little more relaxed at Bangla- the temperature scanning at the entrance was very casual last night and they simply stuck the “approved” label on my shirt as I walked through the barricades.

 

I must apologise to Xylo for doubting his judgement of the female form in my earlier post - I had a peek at a very busy Sea Dragon bar last night and there were indeed some very attractive hotties sprinkled around.

 

Apart from there, the go-to venue on Bangla seems to be Bar funk – odd as it is discretely half-hidden behind plastic drapes and so I can only guess that it has a strong presence on media. Definitely a younger crowd, and many well-presented unattached females of various genders coming and going, but not sure whether they are party types or freelancers.

 

Earlier in the day I’d ridden through Surin, Bang Tao and Cherngtalay and, despite the lack of visible tourists, the vast majority of businesses appeared open – in stark contrast to the scenes when cruising around Patong. I’ve noticed that many business premises here are not simply mothballed until better times, they have been gutted, abandoned, and left to rot!

 

From a quick cruise along Nanai, it does seem to be a bit of an exception as I reckon there are more bars along there than ever, including many that are re-branded or moved – all fighting for a few dozen punters. I didn’t notice many places to eat though and my former favourite pizza place appeared open but did not seem to have their oven fired up – but it was quite early in the evening so maybe later? Xylo will know!

 

I was hoping to start a new “Patong rises from the ashes” thread, but I think this one still has a way to go and any recovery is going to be slow and painful.

[xylophone]

30 minutes ago, London Lowf said:

 

Things are gradually getting a little more relaxed at Bangla- the temperature scanning at the entrance was very casual last night and they simply stuck the “approved” label on my shirt as I walked through the barricades.

 

I must apologise to Xylo for doubting his judgement of the female form in my earlier post - I had a peek at a very busy Sea Dragon bar last night and there were indeed some very attractive hotties sprinkled around.

 

Apart from there, the go-to venue on Bangla seems to be Bar funk – odd as it is discretely half-hidden behind plastic drapes and so I can only guess that it has a strong presence on media. Definitely a younger crowd, and many well-presented unattached females of various genders coming and going, but not sure whether they are party types or freelancers.

 

Earlier in the day I’d ridden through Surin, Bang Tao and Cherngtalay and, despite the lack of visible tourists, the vast majority of businesses appeared open – in stark contrast to the scenes when cruising around Patong. I’ve noticed that many business premises here are not simply mothballed until better times, they have been gutted, abandoned, and left to rot!

 

From a quick cruise along Nanai, it does seem to be a bit of an exception as I reckon there are more bars along there than ever, including many that are re-branded or moved – all fighting for a few dozen punters. I didn’t notice many places to eat though and my former favourite pizza place appeared open but did not seem to have their oven fired up – but it was quite early in the evening so maybe later? Xylo will know!

 

I was hoping to start a new “Patong rises from the ashes” thread, but I think this one still has a way to go and any recovery is going to be slow and painful.

Good to see that the quality of the bar girls has improved LL, and there were some attractive girls in Suzie's, however I did notice on my last visit when it was open, that there were also a few very average girls prancing around the place!

 

Agree with all the other things you have mentioned, and yes there are quite a few more bars opened up in Nanai Road which really means that you get less punters per bar, because there aren't enough punters to go round to fill them all.

 

If your favourite pizza place is Da Moreno, then I have seen it serving pizzas early in the evening, so one would suppose that the pizza oven is fired up although it's not always visible that this is the case, whereas one further south on Nanai, The Loft, does have its oven fired up most of the time, apart from Sundays when the restaurant is closed.

 

Someone mentioned to me the other day that the bar/restaurant called, The Rock (on Nanai just after the junction with Soi Banzaan) serves very good food, although I personally have never tried it, so it may be worth a try LL.

 

As for the new thread "Patong rises from the ashes", well it probably will do but with many places now closed down and some absolutely abandoned and left to rot, as you say, it will take quite a while IMO. Give it a try in two years!

 

Back on the subject of bars, or "resto bars" as they are apt to be called, the very small one at the bottom of my Soi has no customers, nor has it had for almost as long as it's been open, and the little tea/coffee shop next to it is in the same boat.

 

Just around the corner, Dars Burgers is faring no better and the bars opened up next to Makro, Nang Bar 2, and another which I can't remember, are bereft of custom, apart from a couple of Thai staff sitting at the bars.

 

So I think there is more pain to come for some of these people opening up bars and shops in anticipation of a tourist rush.........

[London Lowf]

Saturday Night Fever?

 

As I’ve been staying in an hotel right next to Bangla for two weeks before relocating to an apartment, I’ve had a few beers every evening there – apart from a dull session in Kamala and then a fool’s errand to Rawai.

 

Last night was by far the busiest I’ve ever seen it, including a guest appearance from the ever-popular Xylo with a couple of mates, and there seemed to be just enough punters for the very few bars that are open. The surprising thing was that it was predominantly youngsters and couples and at 10pm closing time it was positively lively with crowds wandering around wondering what the hell to do next – head to the beach?  

 

It’s still a very sad situation compared to pre-Covid, but a first-time visitor would not know any different and, with the mainly enthusiastic bar girls and numerous sometimes stunning LB streetwalkers on view, it sure beats anything that many of us have back home.

 

A long way to go, but there is hope – Patong in general, and Bangla in particular, have clearly got past rock bottom and now the only way is up.

 

PS: And it hasn’t rained for two days!”

 

[xylophone]

23 minutes ago, London Lowf said:

Saturday Night Fever?

 

As I’ve been staying in an hotel right next to Bangla for two weeks before relocating to an apartment, I’ve had a few beers every evening there – apart from a dull session in Kamala and then a fool’s errand to Rawai.

 

Last night was by far the busiest I’ve ever seen it, including a guest appearance from the ever-popular Xylo with a couple of mates, and there seemed to be just enough punters for the very few bars that are open. The surprising thing was that it was predominantly youngsters and couples and at 10pm closing time it was positively lively with crowds wandering around wondering what the hell to do next – head to the beach?  

 

It’s still a very sad situation compared to pre-Covid, but a first-time visitor would not know any different and, with the mainly enthusiastic bar girls and numerous sometimes stunning LB streetwalkers on view, it sure beats anything that many of us have back home.

 

A long way to go, but there is hope – Patong in general, and Bangla in particular, have clearly got past rock bottom and now the only way is up.

 

PS: And it hasn’t rained for two days!”

 

Nice post LL, good to catch up with you, and you have summed it up well, and it's such a pity that the 10 PM curfew was implemented, because the place was very lively, but then, them's the rules!

 

The ex-Suzie Wong's girls who were crowding around the bar at the entrance to Soi Sea Dragon were certainly busy and there had to be at least 30 of them vying for punters attention and lady drinks.

 

Beach Road was also busy with hotels and café's pulling in a few punters, and I noticed that Molly Malone's was open, and the lead guitarist and singer, called Dom, from a group who used to play in Soi Freedom, came over to me and asked me to go in and join him in a few songs, but friends and I were on our way to the Italian restaurant, Napoli, in Soi Post Office, so I couldn't take him up on his offer.

 

At the end of the evening when I was making my way home, the guitarist who used to play in the group in Red Hot spied me and came over for a chat and said that they were now open and would I join them tomorrow night (Sunday night), however I didn't fancy a consecutive night out, so said I would think about it.

 

Lucky I didn't make any commitments because this morning I woke up with a hangover, which was surprising because I didn't have much to drink, however thinking back I believe it was the red wine we were drinking with our meal, because my friend ordered it and it wasn't until after we had finished two bottles and I wasn't impressed with it at all, that I decided to look at the back label, only to find it was, "red fruit wine" which explained a lot, and I have put that down to my hangover, because I can drink exactly what I had last night, starting off with a decent red wine and never get a hangover!

 

I would like to share LL's enthusiasm as regards Patong, and I think it definitely will get better, but not in leaps and bounds, and it will be a couple of years IMO before it gets back to something like its old days, and will probably never get back to its old "glory days".

[London Lowf]

Well, the international arrivals for Saturday surpassed 1,000 for the first time (sadly, spread over eight flights) and I would guess that a fair few of them got their "Not detected" arrival PCR results and immediately went out looking for fun.

 

Regarding the 10pm closing, my initial reaction was that longer hours would simply mean spreading the available income over a longer period - if it was pre-Covid hours then post-midnight I think would be a waste of time remaining open.

 

Having said that, on previous visits my comfortable intake was six beers (and maybe a Sang Som + coke nightcap) with the attendant tips spread over about three hours in two or three different bars. Now, by the time I've got scrubbed up, had a meal and then hit a bar I only have time for three drinks, on occassion only two God forbid! And I just stick with one bar.

 

Inevitably the arrivals will continue to increase and the restrictions eased, but at what pace?. I read that domestic travelers are now queuing to get over the bridge, but not sure if they are cash-rich tourists or workers pinning their hopes on an upswing.

[sallecc]

On 10/17/2021 at 1:15 PM, xylophone said:

Nice post LL, good to catch up with you, and you have summed it up well, and it's such a pity that the 10 PM curfew was implemented, because the place was very lively, but then, them's the rules!

 

The ex-Suzie Wong's girls who were crowding around the bar at the entrance to Soi Sea Dragon were certainly busy and there had to be at least 30 of them vying for punters attention and lady drinks.

 

Beach Road was also busy with hotels and café's pulling in a few punters, and I noticed that Molly Malone's was open, and the lead guitarist and singer, called Dom, from a group who used to play in Soi Freedom, came over to me and asked me to go in and join him in a few songs, but friends and I were on our way to the Italian restaurant, Napoli, in Soi Post Office, so I couldn't take him up on his offer.

 

At the end of the evening when I was making my way home, the guitarist who used to play in the group in Red Hot spied me and came over for a chat and said that they were now open and would I join them tomorrow night (Sunday night), however I didn't fancy a consecutive night out, so said I would think about it.

 

Lucky I didn't make any commitments because this morning I woke up with a hangover, which was surprising because I didn't have much to drink, however thinking back I believe it was the red wine we were drinking with our meal, because my friend ordered it and it wasn't until after we had finished two bottles and I wasn't impressed with it at all, that I decided to look at the back label, only to find it was, "red fruit wine" which explained a lot, and I have put that down to my hangover, because I can drink exactly what I had last night, starting off with a decent red wine and never get a hangover!

 

I would like to share LL's enthusiasm as regards Patong, and I think it definitely will get better, but not in leaps and bounds, and it will be a couple of years IMO before it gets back to something like its old days, and will probably never get back to its old "glory days".

Napoli and Red Hot are open again? My two favorite places in Patong ???? I was checking them entire summer on our weekend pizza takeaways at Da Moreno (all the way from Kata lol)... Few months ago I gave up, thought they will never open... Now I'm stuck in Kata for a month (after knee surgery, eh)...  As soon as I'm up on my feet I'll be firing my Aerox and head to Patong for some authentic pasta and rock'n'roll ????  (Da Moreno is pizza champ still heh) Thanks for fantastic news Xylo!

[sallecc]

Sorry no idea why my message was in bold text... I talked to guitarist from Red Hot, he confirmed they are open and have many customers... Good news... Waiting for Xylo & LL field reports ????

[xylophone]

49 minutes ago, sallecc said:

Sorry no idea why my message was in bold text... I talked to guitarist from Red Hot, he confirmed they are open and have many customers... Good news... Waiting for Xylo & LL field reports ????

Depending upon the mood I am in, I could well go out on Friday evening and sing a few songs with the band at Red Hot, although it's a bit of a bummer them only being able to play from 7 PM to 10 PM!

[xylophone]

On 10/19/2021 at 2:47 PM, sallecc said:

Sorry no idea why my message was in bold text... I talked to guitarist from Red Hot, he confirmed they are open and have many customers... Good news... Waiting for Xylo & LL field reports ????

Well I did go out on Friday evening, early-ish as it happens with a friend, to eat something at the new Blue Lotus café/bar, before having a walk around to see what was going on. Good and cheap eats to take the edge off one's hunger before starting on the booze!

 

Bangla was much more crowded than I thought it would be, almost like a low season in the old times (well perhaps not quite as busy, but the busiest I've seen it for yonks) and Kangaroo bar was absolutely heaving, but we managed to grab the last two seats available!

 

Bar Funk had a fair share of punters in it, although it would take a few busloads to fill that huge place, and other bars that were open were doing fair business.

 

The bar at the entrance to Soi Sea Dragon was full of the ex-Suzie Wong girls and this was attracting a fair number of customers, and although we didn't go there until later on, a couple of the girls we knew from before were counting out their bar tickets (the little stubs they get for drinks which are exchanged for cash at the end of the evening) and a couple of them seemed to have done very well.

 

Sweetie Bar was also almost full and there was a band playing, although from what I heard they were mostly playing Thai songs, so I moved on to see what was going on in Red Hot, and surprisingly enough it was reasonably crowded, so I decided to chance my arm at a song or two.

 

It had been almost 2 years since I got on the stage to have a singsong and I was worried that the old voice might not be up to it, however a rum and coke and a tequila loosened up the vocal cords (well that's my excuse anyway) and the songs came out much better than I expected, so much so that the crowd were whistling and demanding more!

 

The lead guitarist was brilliant as he has always been, and the girl singer, Mayan, was extremely good as she has a great voice and very powerful for a smallish lady, and I have done a few duets with her before, so we paired up for, "Simply the Best" and she also helped with backing vocals on, "Don't Stop Believing", which all went very well.

 

The band initially asked me to perform a couple of songs, but due to audience requests, I ended up singing five different songs, which resulted in being offered numerous drinks by delighted customers, and I have to say that I weakened a little and did accept some!

 

Unfortunately 10 PM came round all too quickly and I joined the throng of people exiting Bangla at the east end, where the motor-bike taxi and tuk tuk drivers were eagerly waiting.

 

I was a bit reluctant/wary about going out and singing a few songs, however I thoroughly enjoyed myself, because I thought I was over the attraction of Bangla, but in visiting a few bars, observing the world going by from one bar, and then some singing in Red Hot, I could see what the attraction was all about again.

 

On that note, I'm looking forward to going out next week and I wonder if the "recovery" (perhaps a little too strong use of the word) will continue?

[Agusts]

At The Rock bar try The Rock Burger special, I thought at 200b it was a very well done burger with many extra toppings and fries... , a couple of months ago when I had it...

[London Lowf]

Much like Thai drivers anticipate the lights changing and deliberately jump the red........

 

I think that the bars on Bangla have already relaxed their hours in anticipation of next months probable relaxation. Up until very recently the 10pm shut-down has been very strictly adhered to and, although you have been allowed a little drinking-up time, you have not been able to order after 10pm and you have been asked to settle your tab before that time.

 

Last night it was all different - 10pm came and went and, when I asked at my "local" (in which the police regularly stop for a meal) what time they were closing, I just got a shrug. I'd already had my fill and so set off home but at 10:15 things were still going strong.

 

Earlier, I'd noticed that two bars have now been brave enough to open in the Tiger complex - that place was increasingly becoming more and more bare over the last few years and they had a grand total of three punters between them.

 

Also, i had a wander down Soi Sea Dragon and there are quite a few bars opened up in the last few days - probably 25%. The remainder of the soi is being used for staff parking which helps explain why it is so easy to park within a two minute walk at either end of Bangla these days. Sadly, these bars were generally deserted.

 

A Sandboxer on a "rival" forum, from which I've now excommunicated myself, mentioned that Bangla was "busy" -  clearly, they are comparing it to an English seaside town in February. There are people around but look closely and the vast majority are staff. The Sea Dragon bar is a good example - it is a hive of activity but look closer and they must "employ" 30-40 girls. Nowadays you don't get one girl to ask you "where you fom" and "you come alone" - you get three of them. That can work out a very expensive night out for the unwary.

 

It's the same at several bars along Bangla - outwardly busy, but plenty of girlies and very few paying customers and, looking at the daily international arrivals, I can't see any improvement on the horizon.

 

(Of course, me being a sensible chap, I drink at bars where the lady drinks are at regular prices - albeit without the eye candy)

[London Lowf]

PS: That annoying sax player is back at Bar Funk - zombie mechanoid table dancers to follow shortly, I would imagine!

[xylophone]

I too was out last night on Bangla, however didn't spot you LL however didn't go to many bars, only the new Blue Lotus Café/bar where I had a spaghetti dish, just to line the stomach, then the Black Horse and Monjo Bar in Soi Sea Dragon, before heading off to Red Hot to sing a few numbers.

 

As a general observation, Bangla was probably about as crowded as it was last week, which is not much compared to the usual, but is better than it has been, and I would suppose that if the bars are officially allowed to open on Monday, then there will be more people around.

 

I did meet up with four English lads in the Black Horse and they were lively enough, and very friendly and I got chatting to one and he said he and his three mates were here on a six-month holiday?!

 

They were in their mid-20s or thereabouts and I jokingly said to him and his sidekick, "are you very wealthy then" and they both said "yes", which astounded me. They then explained how they had gotten into Bitcoin a couple of years back and now they were worth a lot of money, so they had taken the opportunity to do some travelling and partying.

 

It turns out one of the guys was born in Sussex, as was I, and had also played football for Hastings United, whereupon I mentioned that I had played for Horsham and that we had played against Hastings way back before he was born, and booked ourselves a passage through to play Swindon in the first round proper of the FA Cup, so we had something in common.

 

He was delighted with the link we had and wished me well as I took a break in the rain to head up to Red Hot.

 

Jumping around a bit here: – Bar Funk was about half full, however as a friend pointed out, the bars are laid out in such a way that they almost fill up about half of the total space, so the place could look crowded when it really wasn't.

 

As I said earlier, I did pop into Monjo bar in Soi Sea Dragon to catch up with the owner who is a very nice Belgian guy, and have a rum and coke, and thinking back I probably had too many that evening, along with half a bottle of red wine, a large shot of tequila and a beer, despite this and a dry mouth, I felt okay this morning.

 

As my mate and I were heading out of Soi Sea Dragon we noticed the huge number of girls (ex-Suzie Wong's) sitting outside of the leading bar and I was tempted to have a drink there, but the comment from my mate that there were four girls to each table with very few punters around, and all of them looked ready to leap out upon the first farang passing by, so it could be an expensive evening if we weren't careful. Therefore we bypassed it!

 

After closing time at Red Hot, I telephoned my friend who had bought me down to Bangla on the back of his motorbike but he was nowhere to be found, despite calling on his phone, so I made my own way home using one of the friendly motorbike taxi guys, whom I have used before, and nice guys they are too, so a good tip was given.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening out as it made a change from staying home and watching movies, and I also caught up with another friend who had just returned from the UK and had done his quarantine stint, so was also pleased to get out on the town.
 

[billythehat]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

It turns out one of the guys was born in Sussex, as was I, and had also played football for Hastings United, whereupon I mentioned that I had played for Horsham and that we had played against Hastings way back before he was born, and booked ourselves a passage through to play Swindon in the first round proper of the FA Cup, so we had something in common.

 

“It turns out one of the guys was born in Sussex, as was I, and had also played football for Hastings United,”

 

Okay, XP, fess up, which one is you? ????

 

[xylophone]

4 hours ago, billythehat said:

“It turns out one of the guys was born in Sussex, as was I, and had also played football for Hastings United,”

 

Okay, XP, fess up, which one is you? ????

 

The good looking one!!

[wanderingengine]

Any recommendations for Halloween night out for a young-ish couple? Dancing and drinking, in that order. Rawai or Patong?

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, wanderingengine said:

Any recommendations for Halloween night out for a young-ish couple? Dancing and drinking, in that order. Rawai or Patong?

For me, Patong would be the "go to place" because it has opened up a lot more now and has the bars/café's operating as they used to, or should I say most of them are.

 

At one end of Bangla there is Taipan, which has a DJ and a dance floor or two and rumour has it that even when everything else closes, behind their closed doors, the party continues?

 

Then you have Red Hot which has a live band playing all night and very good they are too, and in front of the band there is a small dance area and plenty of room for sitting and enjoying a drink and it is one of my favourite places.

 

Then a little further down towards the sea there is New York which is a bar with a live band and a little dance area, and almost next door is Sweeties bar which also has a live band, but not much room, if any, for dancing.

 

If you want a snack/food you can get that in the Blue Lotus café/bar (formerly Smiley Bar) and it is cheap and tasty, so you can eat it whilst watching the world go by and also enjoying a drink.

 

Going down on the right-hand side there is Bar Funk which has a DJ and plays non-stop music and there is an area for dancing and a few large bar areas.

 

On the beach road, Molly Malone's pub/café is now open and has three musicians playing in it, although I haven't been there for many years, so I can't comment on what it's like, although I do know the guitarist is excellent.

 

I may have missed other attractions, however I doubt that many other places could match the varied entertainment which Bangla, even now, offers.
 

[DFPhuket]

I was at New York Live Music Bar on Friday night and was pleasantly surprised. Most of the pre-Covid Filipino band members were performing and did a great job. It's always been my favorite live music venue.

 

Due to the earlier closure time it gets "busy" earlier. Around 8 pm there was a decent crowd, with over 1/2 of the tables occupied. The crowd was similar to what you might have found on a Sunday night in the lowest of the pre-Covid low season.

 

After 18 months of no work for the musicians, I was happy to see that many people were leaving something in the tip box. 

[Agusts]

Have the big discos opened in Bangla...!?

[xylophone]

On 11/1/2021 at 12:01 AM, Agusts said:

Have the big discos opened in Bangla...!?

Taipan is open, but as of a few days ago neither Hollywood nor Illuzion were open..........

[xylophone]

On 10/31/2021 at 1:03 PM, DFPhuket said:

I was at New York Live Music Bar on Friday night and was pleasantly surprised. Most of the pre-Covid Filipino band members were performing and did a great job. It's always been my favorite live music venue.

I have got to agree with you DFP regarding Filipino musicians, because they are some of, if not the best musicians, I've seen here in Patong.

 

I was thinking the same thing when I was watching the band in Red Hot last night where around half of them are Filipinos, however the lead guitarist is Thai and is just brilliant.

 

I ended up there with four friends, after a visit to Black Horse, where I caught up with a guy I know who arrived in the country just last Monday, and he said that his flight from Dubai had more than 260 passengers in it, he also said that a couple of friends of his had arrived in the country this week and flights were similarly crowded, so it seems to make a mockery of some numbers which have been bandied around?

 

Having said that, last night was not as crowded as a few nights ago, according to my friend and also the pic I saw in a publication, however it was an improvement on the recent past, and that's a good sign.

 

Also at Red Hot I met a guy from NZ, a bunch of guys from England, a couple of Americans and a couple of others whose accents I couldn't pick, but who came to congratulate me on some songs I performed.

 

A couple of other English guys, accompanied by one Thai girlfriend, had come over from Pattaya because the nightlife there was "rubbish" and he was appreciative of the nightlife/vibrancy of Bangla.

 

Sure enough at 11 PM most of the places started to close, and those which were little slow in doing so were visited by the BIB!

 

The signs are good, but the news regarding Covid, opening times, closing times, alcohol and insurances is very mixed, which could slow tourist progress.

[London Lowf]

The dancing girls are back!